Box Office Preview: Can ’Immortals’ pass ’Puss’?

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Relativity Media’s “Immortals” will battle Paramount/Dreamworks’ “Puss in Boots” and Sony’s “Jack and Jill” for box office supremacy this weekend in what could be a titan-like clash for No. 1.

But Tarsem Singh’s action-adventure set in a mythological world and starring Henry Cavill and Luke Evans should end up prevailing with riches in the $25 million to $30 million range.

The ferocious “Puss in Boots” in its third week on the prowl has continued to dominate the marketplace and could earn another $25 million this weekend and likely cross the $110 million mark by Sunday night.

Adam Sandler will enter the fray this weekend in “Jack and Jill,” which features Sandler playing Jack Sadelstein and his identical twin sister Jill in this holiday-themed comedy. An expected gross in the low to mid $20 million range will make for a tightly clustered top three at the box office.

Universal’s Tower Heist starring Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller will see a likely 35-40 percent drop in its second weekend and should steal around $15 million.

Warner Bros.’ biopic “J. Edgar” is debuting in around 1,900 theaters and should start its box office file with about $12 million to $15 million. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as legendary FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover, the Clint Eastwood-directed film is already generating Oscar buzz and critical acclaim.

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Paul Dergarabedian is president of the Box Office Division of Hollywood.com and provides box office analysis for The Associated Press.